Durango Telegraph - Larger regional effort takes shape: Four Corners Biker Rally forms
Larger regional effort takes shape: Four Corners Biker Rally forms

After several years of stop-and-go with the annual Labor Day motorcycle gathering, Four Corners businesses and chamber organizations have banded together to jumpstart what has become an annual tradition.

The nonprofit group, known as the Four Corners Biker Rally Association, formed last fall, spearheaded by Jeff Murray, owner of Durango Harley-Davidson.

“We put out an open call and had our first meeting in November,” said Dee Dee Casillas, marketing coordinator for Durango Harley-Davidson. Casillas said the nonprofit coalition has been meeting every two to three weeks, with as many as 45 people showing up each time. She said the group was formed in response to reactions from rallies of recent years.

“In years past, and especially last year, the feeling was that the whole rally could have a different and better atmosphere,” she said. “We asked ourselves, ‘What can we do to make things better and not leave people with a bad taste in their mouths?’”

Casillas said the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally will serve as the umbrella organization to promote Labor Day weekend motorcycle events throughout the region. Participants include chamber organizations for Durango, Farmington, Ouray, Silverton, Mancos, Cortez and Ignacio, she said. Each organization will put money into a pot overseen by the Rally Association, which, in turn, will use the money to market Four Corners Labor Day motorcycle festivities. Casillas said money will be used to buy ads in motorcy

cle publications, build the association’s web site and for marketing and publicity materials.

Right now, individual events are “still a work in progress,” with many communities still deciding on what exactly they want to do. She said the goal is to offer a “Sturgis-like” format, with events held in tandem in several areas and free access to vendor areas.

“It’s not necessarily a rally where you buy a ticket in order to get into the event,” Casillas said. “The emphasis is on variety and multiple locations, which will be the key to a unique rally experience in 2007.”

For more information on the Four Corners Biker Rally or on becoming a member, visit www.fourcornersbikerrally.com.

– Missy Votel